2013 Brew Year's Resolutions/Goals

[blatz]

- figure out a hop filter/screen that works for my new system
- streamline my cleanup process in the new brewery so I can be done sooner
- judge in at least 2 out of town competitions
- dial in/master my West Coast IPA - my regular IPA is more Celebrationesque - amber, maltier.  I'm working on something that is more WC flared.
- brew the following styles/recipes:
   Wookey Jack clone
   Blind Pig
   Pliny (been a while)
   Janet's Brown Ale
   Golden Bock
   Double Stout
   Baltic Porter
   San Diego Session Ale

Of course I'll be brewing many other styles as well, but I've been wanting to do all of these.

How about you?

[davidgzach]

-start culturing yeast.
-have a RIMS system built by the end of the year.

If I get both done, I'm very happy!   

Dave

[deepsouth]

my goal is 12 beers in 12 months, same as my goal last year.  i started strong, with seven beers in six months, but only brewed one in the final six months, sadly.

i've got a balcones barrel right now that i plan on getting a stout in before the end of the year.  i also want to brew a beer or two with bugs in it, non fruited this time.  i'll probably brew an esb, a couple ipa and pale ales.  i'd like to brew the white house honey brown (brewed the honey blonde last year, still have a case). 

i need to get another fermentation fridge or freezer as my 'old' one now keeps the beer cold.  i need to start kegging again.  i need to start brewing all grain again by the end of the year.

lots to do, lots to do. 

[erockrph]

1) Make a big dent in my hop hoard. I have 6 recipes for hoppy brews right now that will end up using at least 2 ounces of each hop variety in my freezer. That should take up most of my winter/spring brewing.

2) Brew a few 100% Brett beers. One of the above-mentioned brews will be a Brett IPA. Also thinking of doing a Baltic Porter and sour-wort Berliner Weisse as 100% Brett brews.

3) Take one yeast strain and brew every Belgian style with it at various temps to learn it inside and out.

4) Rebrew my roast porter a couple of times to really try to nail down the recipe I want for that.

5) Find the elusive session Pale Ale recipe that really suits my palate.

[nateo]

1) Better QC. Dumping batches that are just "meh."
2) Drink less, and only drink good beer (related to #1)
3) Manage my ingredient inventory better (stop stockpiling stuff I don't really need)

[tygo]

1)  Attend my first NHC.
2)  Work with Brett more including a 100% brett beer (this one will definitely happen as the starter is already going).
3)  Enter a beer in each of my club's monthly competitions (and hopefully win  )
4)  Brew more American ales to try out new hop combinations

[beersk]

1) Better QC. Dumping batches that are just "meh."
2) Drink less, and only drink good beer (related to #1)
3) Manage my ingredient inventory better (stop stockpiling stuff I don't really need)

I have a problem with hoppy beers that I brew. I seem to like them the first week, then my palate takes a turn and doesn't enjoy them anymore.  I'm sure it's my palate and not the beer...but I don't know. Hoppy beers tend to start tasting the same as the last one.
So I guess a Brew Year's resolution for me would be to figure out how to brew a good IPA, it's an elusive style for me, has been for a long time.
Drink and buy less commercial beer

[hopfenundmalz]

Brew more lagers, and not make the process too hard, which I sometimes do.

Enter the Nationals, but try not to get too wound up about the beers. Just pick the best ones and send them into the first round. RDWHAHB.

Attend the NHC in Philly.

Relax, have fun, make the best beer we can, enjoy drinking it by the fire (now), or on the deck in 6 months.

[AmandaK]

In no order of importance:

Brew styles that I haven't before - especially German styles!
-German Pilsner
-Vienna Lager
-Munich Dunkel
-Munich Helles
-Altbiers
-Schwarzbier
-Dopplebock
-Berliner Weisse
-Belgian Wit
-100% Brett Trois IPA
-Session IPA
-Belgian IPA w/WY3522

Judge/help in more competitions.
-Assist my local club as the assistant organizer for the regional NHC round
-Go/host continuing education classes for judges

Expand my sour beer pipeline.
-10 gallon lambic brew day
-Tart/funky saison?

Get REALLY good at saisons.
-I finally got a saison to turn out, so I must brew more! Perhaps a Saison w/ Brett % tart cherries? I was inspired by a fellow club member.

[redbeerman]

Brew more lagers, and not make the process too hard, which I sometimes do.

Enter the Nationals, but try not to get too wound up about the beers. Just pick the best ones and send them into the first round. RDWHAHB.

Attend the NHC in Philly.

Relax, have fun, make the best beer we can, enjoy drinking it by the fire (now), or on the deck in 6 months.

With you on all of the above, Jeff.  Philly will be my first one.  I have three beers that I believe are good enough for the NHC comp.  I'm getting more picky with what I enter as well.

[blatz]

This is a fun thread...

I forgot also: buy less commercial - I've been meaning to wean off commercial for a while now, and this year I'm going to do it!

May try and enter NHC if I have anything that meets the snuff test. 

beersk - maybe try posting your recipes and water profile and we can help out - I make pretty killer IPAs that I am generally happy with until the last drop.  I think the key many people miss is that you have to be literally gluttonous with the use of hops, especially late and in the dryhop.  just a thought.

[morticaixavier]

Enter NHC
Attend NHC (I have all sorts of reminders on my calendar so I hope to get a chance at both of these before they fill up)
Brew some sour beers
Malt my own barley (was going to grow it too but didn't get it planted this year so that will have to wait till next winter)
experiment with gluten free grains.
start building a 1 bbl system

[hd3]

1. Brew one beer a month
2. Move to all-grain
3. Nail down a solid IPA and porter
4. Have fun

[nateo]

I forgot also: buy less commercial - I've been meaning to wean off commercial for a while now, and this year I'm going to do it!

I'll usually buy a few commercial style examples before each batch I brew. I'll also buy bottles of something that sounds kinda weird or unique, to see if it's worth trying to make 5 gallons of it. There have been a few years where I basically didn't buy any commercial beer, and my brewing was worse for it.

[blatz]

I forgot also: buy less commercial - I've been meaning to wean off commercial for a while now, and this year I'm going to do it!

I'll usually buy a few commercial style examples before each batch I brew. I'll also buy bottles of something that sounds kinda weird or unique, to see if it's worth trying to make 5 gallons of it. There have been a few years where I basically didn't buy any commercial beer, and my brewing was worse for it.

very true - as much as I say I will do this, I probably won't, but I should buy less.  If I didn't buy commercial (for home at least) I wouldn't have been turned on to things like Green Flash's Double Stout, which has turned me on to brewing one soon...